Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-03-29
A. Remarkable Dream,.
4 Might Vision thqt preestaattssd' a
Wrong Hertliet. ~

In6 0tduntOu NNst.l
Last summer Col. wma Preston
Johnston, President of Tulane Uni-,
versity of Louisiana, while on a visit
to Staunton, and during an evening
spent at the residence of Mr.. Geo.
NJ. Harrison, became the possessor of
the following remarkable. occurrence
narrated to him by Mr.. Harrison, and
which had taken place in Mr.. HIS
own practice. Since then, COL John4'
ston has communicated it to the Lou,
isiana '' Journal of Education," from
which we reprint it. The event which
took place about twelve years ago,
is well remembered by those con-
nected with it, but this is. the first
time it was ever in print. For ftil-
Ter understanding by those ofeour
readers unfamiliar with this part of
Virginia, we may say that Mr.. Har-
rison is one of the firm of Harrison
& Tucker and one of the most prom
inent lawyers in this section of the
State. Mr.. w. his client. now dead,
was the venerable John Wayt, man
who stood without blemish in this
community and whose word in any
matter was sufficient to settle that
motter in the minds of our people,
The executor whose generous indulA
gence is mentioned is Mr.. Preston A.
Baylor, prominent member of the
bar and then the executor of Col.
George Baylor, and the Judge of tue
Circuit Court is Judge William Nc
Laughiin.. The story which Col. p
Johnston heads "A Freak of Mem
ory," is as follows: ~. q
"The present duty of the psychols
ogist is to accumulate well authentiS
Gated data. Any fact which throws
light on the actual operations of the
faculties has its place and value.=
The short story now given of the
trial of lawsuit, in Staunton, Va,
illustrates a curious freak of memory.
Mr.. G. NJ. H, highly esteemed iaw'
yer OF that town, was retained by Mr.,
W. to defend suit brought against
him by the executor of Col. Geo. B.,
to revive n judgment. It. seems that
B. had brought suit against w. as
surety of another party and obtained
q Judgment nearly twenty wears be-
fore. After BIS death, hrs executor
found this judgment among the rec
ords. of the court. and with no eyi-
dence of it's having been paid, MT:
W. assured him that the debt had
been paid. and that =: II alive, would
acquit him Of Il. N| 'Itd ofeit.
ssieat i ! 49,, .....d 5. ss5o cif-
cuInstance, but losses in the war and
other causes would now have made
this debt, with interests and costs,
amounting to 500 or $500 10 all !, an
embarrassment to him. He was d
venerable man, an Elder in the Pres
Ebyterian church, and of unimpeacha-
bic integrity. His own testimony
could not he admitted as evidence of
payment, however, and various causes
rendered it improbable whether he
could find any other. His papers
had been raided, and scattered dur
ing the war, n food had injured and
destroyed others, and lastly fire had
swept away many Of the remainder:
On these grounds contintiances were
twice granted by the court, and once
more by the indulgence of BIS exec
utor, to enable Mr.. W. TO search for
and discover some evidence of pay
ment. Delays having been exhausted,
the case at last came up for trial be-
fore Judge Mel. The attorney for
the plaintiff stated his case, and in
reply Mr.. H., after narrating ttb
facts as hereinbefore given, and stat
ing how this matter had weighed
Upon his clients mind, added this sim
guIar narrative.
'' He said that few days before,
his client had come TO him and told
him that that morning he had dream
in which he saw in the vault of the old
bank, where he had served many
years as teller, lying on the shelf covA
cred with dust an old wallet that he
recognized as his. lie seemed to
awaken Mt this moment, and in great
excitement went down to the bank
before breakfast, and after much diff
ficulty succeeded in opening the old
vault which had been long disused.
There were the old bank books heaped
up, in disarray and covered with
dust. Mr.. W. turned his attention
at once to the shelf of his dream-and
there TO his amazement he found lying
just in the position his dream had
disclosed it, the long lost and forgot
ten wallet, covered with the dust of
many years. He opened it, and found
papers in it, which he began TO turn
over, and the third paper he laid his
hand upon was this, said Mr.. H., taxi
ing from his pocket what proved 20
be the original execution on the old
Judgment in favor of Col. B. against
Mr.. W., on the back of which was q
statement of the debt, and the receipt
of Col. B. in full at the bottom. And
now,' said Mr. II. Il hold here in my
hand, that document. the evidence of
the payment of this debt By this
time the bar and the audience we're
breathless with excitement. Set me
see it. exclaimed the Judge, who was
leaning forward, as he stretched forth
his hand. 1t was passed to him. 1t
is true, he said, 'the debt is paid
Give judgment in favor of the de-
fendant.'
Thegood old defendant fairly broke
down before the congratulations of
the bar and bystanders, all of whom
we're not only glad to see him relieved
from the burden, but so strangely
justified in his business accuracy.
WM. PRESTON JOHNSTON"